What is The Difference Between a Panic and Anxiety Attacks(2)

I was browsing some of the many forums and Q&A sites that are related to the topic of mental health.I noticed that the same question is asked quite often.(The question is:) What is the difference between a panic attack and an Anxiety attack and are they the same thing?

I have an older post that talks about some of the differences between a panic attack and  anxiety attacks so I won't go into alot of details in this post,but i did want to address whether there is a difference between a panic attack and anxiety attacks.And as a suffer of both of these conditions I can say without a doubt that there definately is a difference and they are not the same at all.

Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks do share some of the same signs and symptoms and are very closely related disorders but the main difference between the two are that a Panic Attack is usually a short and sudden onset of extreme irrational fear most often brought on by stress and anxiety,and normally occurs out of the blue.

On the other hand  Anxiety Attacks usually happen very gradually,are less extreme,consist of symtoms like intense worry,nervousness,a general unease,and can last for hours,days and even weeks in more severe cases.

I hope this post has been helpful and clears up the question of whether there really is a difference between panic and anxiety attack.If you want more information check out my older post.There is a direct link to it in this post.

Panic-A Tiny Setback.

Setbacks are a big part of recovery from Panic Attacks and in my case Agoraphobia as well.An example of a minor setback is something that happened to me today.After doing very well over the past two months or so I had a Panic Attack while I was at a friends house.

Of course they had no idea because i was outside by myself at the time,and it only lasted for a few minutes.Which is a lot better than some of the 20 minute panic attacks I used to have.So what i realised is that even though I had a panic attack for no real reason and it was very unpleasant its not the end of the world.

It definately doesn't have to undo all of the progress that I have made.I am not going to let one panic attack turn into a major setback.I will learn from it and move on.

Just in case anyone is wondering this is a rough draft of a business card I designed for myself.I would really like to get some feed back.Good or bad I'd like to know your opinion.Thanks

Anxiety and Stress-Techniques To Help Manage It

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. We all experience it when we are faced with situations that make us uncomfortable.Anxiety is a good thing in small doses and may protect us in dangerous situations but it becomes a problem if you feel overwhelming anxiety for extended periods of time and for no particular reason.

Chronic Anxiety can interfere with normal daily activities,relationships and lead to panic attacks and social phobias.The good news is that we can learn to manage our stress and there for reduce our anxiety.

There are many effective techniques to help manage stress and anxiety.These techniques are used to reduce the intensity of the disturbing symptoms that anxiety can cause.Anxiety management techniques are usually part of many psychological treatments.

They may include relaxation training, deep breathing techniques, meditation, and hyperventilation control. These techniques require regular and consistent practice to be of benefit, and are most effective if used a long with some form of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Anxiety and Stress-Examples of Management Techniques

Guided Imagery-is just one of many types of relaxation training.It is closely related to hypnosis and meditation.Guided imagery is a visualization technique and is a clinically proven, psychologist-recommended course of treatment for everything from depression, anxiety, weight-loss, pain, and many other conditions.The patient is tought to visualize images of a relaxing environment and to focus on positive images and emotions,when practiced regularly and done properly the body,will enter a relaxed state.And signifagintly reduces the symptoms of anxiety.

Deep breathing exercises-can help to bring more oxygen into the body and are thought to release excess tension in the diaphragm.An example of a deep breathing exercise that is very effective and worth considering is done by inhaling through the nose and slowly counting to five while you inhale. - exhale slowly through your mouth and count down from five while you exhale.Repeat this until your breathing is under control being careful not to hyperventilate.

Meditation-is one of the oldest self help technique that involves both relaxation and cognitive techniques such as some form of breathing exercise and visualization technique. Meditation helps to calm the mind, and the body relaxes naturally as a result.All you need to start using meditation is to choose a quiet place in your home, office,or even outdoors where you can relax without being interrupted.

Hyperventilation is basically the act of overbreathing which raises carbon dioxide levels and lowers oxygen and occurs quite often in people with anxiety and panic attacks.An examples of a commonly used hyperventilation control technique is paper bag breathing which can be dangerous if used improperly or for extended periods of time and should only be used once in a while and not as a permanent treatment for Hyperventilation.

To find more detailed examples of these relaxation techniques and more.Ask your health care provider,search the internet and read the many books that are available on the subject.

Panic-In Public

Have you ever had a Panic Attack?If you haven't you are very lucky,but for those of us that have,whether it's your first and only experience with Panic or if you have had hundreds of Panic Attacks over a period of many years you know that what I am going to say is true and very frightening,

Let say you are at the grocery store,your in the checkout line behind someone who is taking a very long time.There are a bunch of noisy kids running around,the confusion starts to make you anxious,you start to sweat,your finding it hard to breath,and your heart is beating so fast and hard that it feels like it could come flying out of your chest at any moment.

You start to feel light-headed,thoughts of fainting or maybe even dieing race through you mind You leave your groceries and run out of the store to the privacy of your car.The experience was so disturbing and embarrassing that you go to the emergency room,thinking that you were having  heart attack,but of course it was "JUST" a Panic Attack.

Well that harmless Panic Attack to everyone else was a life changing,terrifying event for you.The next time you even think about going to the grocery store you have all of the same symptoms that you had when you where actually at the store.

This is disturbing enough to make you avoid the grocery store whenever possible or you make sure you go when a trusted family member or friend can go with you..You then fear having a Panic Attack in other places so you avoid any place that requires you to stand in a line.It becomes a vicious cycle of avoidance.

Many people do not totally understand how frightening a Panic Attack can be.I suggest that if someone who has never suffered from a Panic Attack  would like to know a bit more about the feeling that they think about the things that frightens them most and try to do it no matter how hard it is.As long as it is safe to do so.

What is the difference between Panic and Anxiety attacks.

I am talking today about the difference between a Panic and anxiety attack.I bet when

most people think about panic attacks and anxiety attacks they wonder!what IS the difference?
Well I am going to attempt to explain the difference between a panic and anxiety attack,
atleast the differences that I have noticed as someone who suffers from both.To start with(in my opinion)
chronic panic attacks are mostly a result of the fear of having another attack.They also occur more
suddenly and ussually lasts for only a few minutes or up to about 1/2 hour or so.Panic attacks can come
in cycles that last for hours sometimes but they are normally made up of more than one attack.
On the other hand an anxiety attack is more of a drawn out event that can last for minutes,hours,or even days.Anxiety attacks are also more of a general feeling of unease,where as a panic attack is a sudden on set of extreme fear or dread,most often brought on by a build up of anxiety or stress.
Also,not everyone that has anxiety attacks has panic attacks,but often in the case panic attack sufferers
they always seem to have some form of anxiety and/or chronic stress that builds to the point of a full blown
panic attack.
Anxiety attacks seem to be easier to treat than panic attacks.Most likely because of the fact that panic attacks are ussually much more fightening and can limit the ability of a person to function in their daily lives more so sometimes than a generalized anxiety problem(but not in all cases).including but not limited to actively seeking some form of treatment for their condition.
I hope I have been helpful in clearing up some of the things that make panic attacks different than anxiety attacks.
For a list of some of the common symptoms and treatments of panic attacks(see my older posts)or click on the links.

Panic and Anxiety Recovery-One Step Forward and Two Steps Back?

When you first start to deal with a Panic Disorder it can be very over whelming.Especially if the panic attacks are something you have been experiencing for many years.They sometimes become such a big part of our lives that they can be extremely difficult to overcome.

When treatment begins a lot of people make great progress for some time,but no matter what kind of treatment you decided to use,most likely you will experience setbacks in some form or another.These setbacks can destroy the confidence and motivation of the person so much so that they give up completely and return to their old way of thinking.This leads to a relapse of symptoms,and the cycle of panic begins all over again.

The thing to remember when treating panic attacks is that set backs are something that most of us will deal with at some point ,and it does not have to mean that we have lost all of the progress that we have made.Recovery is possible and may even be aided in some ways by minor set backs as they can remind us how far we have come.

Panic and Anxiety Videos

Exercise Can Help You Cure Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks.Without Any Medication

I would like to talk today about something that I have been trying out for the past two months that has made me much more confident that I can Cure my Anxiety and Panic Attacks Without Any medication.

About two months ago I decided that even though my Panic Attacks were quite bad and i had a lot of Anxiety,and my doctor was insisting that it would be extremely diffcult for me to cure my anxiety and panic attacks without any medication.

 I thought that in my case there has to be a better way of overcoming this than to just mindlessly pop a pill everyday,so I started out on what i'm sure will be a very long road to recovery,with an Exercise Routine.I call it a routine only because I do it every single day.For now,until I am in better physical condiition my Exercises only consists of a 30-60 minute walk every morning and biking,throughout the day.I will of course add other activities to my routine as I become more comfortable with the exercises I am doing now.

If you plan to start an exercise routine its always a good idea to talk it over with your doctor to make sure you are fit enough to do the activities that you are planning to do.Once you have cleared it with your doctor,it is also a good idea to give some serious thought as to the type of activities you are interested in and what you can physically handle.If the exercise(s) that you choose are to hard or not something that you are interested in,its most likely not going to be something that you will stick with in the long term.

I choose walking because it is something that I knew I could handle and also something I could do at home(on a treadmill) if I didn't feel up to going outside for a walk.In my case I choose not to use my treadmill much,because the fact that I am going outside to walk is not only part of my physical Exercise,it is also part of my Mental Exercise as well,since I suffer from an extreme form of Anxiety Disorder called Agoraphobia.Which for now is limiting the distance that I can travel away from home,either by car or walking.The fact that I force myself to go out every morning and push myself to walk further each time has really help with my Anxiety throughout the day which has also help to eliminate alot(but not all)of the Panic Attacks I was having.

Having a condition like Agoraphobia makes it extremely difficult to normal  everyday activities,and Exercise is no exception,but I'm sure if I take it slow and build up my confidence,eventually I will learn to take control over my Panic and Anxiety.

I'm sure there are some of you who are very scepticle (like I was) about the fact that exercise can help to Cure Anxiety And Panic Attacks Without Any Medication,and I am not saying that exercise alone will cure anything,but daily exercise along with other lifestyle changes is a hugh step in the right direction.

If anyone has a comment or suggestion about this post or any others feel free to let me know.

Attack-Panic,Anxiety

Panic attacks are sudden, onset of intense anxiety, associated with a number of physical symptoms.Some of the more common symptoms include sudden intense anxiety or fear; sense of impending doom or disaster; sweating or trembling; pounding heart and chest tightness; shortness of breath.

A panic attack will normally last about ten minutes,Although,a panic attack can be as short as 1-5 minutes, more severe attacks may form a cyclic series of episodes, lasting much longer, sometimes hours.Panic attacks are a result of the "fight or flight" response, which is your body's way of letting you know that something is wrong.

In severe cases Panic attacks can lead to avoidance of situations that cause anxiety and result in an attack.This kind of avoidance can sometimes develop into an anxiety disorder called agoraphobia

                   

. Agoraphobia can come on suddenly or develop gradually.Agoraphobia is a disabling condition in which the person fears places that are dificult to escape from.In extreme cases, the person might never or rarely leave their home.Agoraphobia is usually treated in connection with panic disorder.

Medications sometimes used in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks are called ssris they include citalopram (celexa), escitalopram (lexapro), fluoxetine (prozac, prozac weekly), paroxetine (paxil, paxil cr) and sertraline (zoloft). These medications are generally safe and have a low risk of serious side effects, ssris are normally recommended as the first choice in medication options to treat panic attacks.

Even though the risk of serious side effects from these medications are low in most people,depending on the medications prescribed and the patient,the side effects can be surprising and also quite disturing.Not to mention the fact that Ssris medications can be addictive.Some of the more common side effects include stomach upset, weight gain or loss, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction (such as impotence, decreased libido, and diminished orgasm), headache, jaw grinding, and apathy.A few of the more rare side effects are extreme agitation, impulsivity, tremors, and insomnia.

Because of some of the side effects that people experience while they are taking some of these medications.Many people are searching for alternative treatments,Most Panic attack treatments are very successful.Some of the more mainstream treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt) and exposure therapy.Cbt involves changing the way you think about the situations that trigger panic attacks,the goal of cbt is to help the person see their condition in a more realistic way.C.B.T also helps the person learn that nothing bad will really happen to them, when they are in situations where a panic attack occurs. Exposure therapy, on the other hand, puts the person into a safe and controlled situation that will most likely trigger a panic attack.The main goal of exposure therapy is to make the person less fearful of the situation with every exposure.
Some people have also turned to relaxation techniques like,mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing, and visualization. When practiced regularly.these relaxation techniques can be very helpfully in reducing the anxiety that can lead to a panic attack.

Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress and relieve anxiety,Research has shown that as little as 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can significantly relieve anxiety. To get the maximum benefit, try to include least an hour of aerobic exercise into you daily routine.

There are also some very interesting e-books and other types of information available online,with tips and techniques that may be worth looking in to.Just keep in mind that most of these types of information are not free and are like all other forms of treatment,(will not instantly cure your anxiety and panic attacks)It will take time, help and a lot of hard work to finally get through it.But it can definitely be done.

Just a warning about Panic & Anxiety CURE claims online!!!!!

Hi everybody.If you suffer from Anxiety and Panic attacks, like I do,you have probably been searching the Internet long and hard to find useful information,that can help you overcome the Panic and Anxiety that you live with everyday.As you probably have noticed,lately,if you type anything to do with Anxiety or Panic Attacks into pretty much any of the popularly used Search engines,most often the very first result and more than likely the whole first page of results are going to lead you to a site that has some kind of "method" or technique that they Claim is a "cure".

These "Cures" are all over the internet and they all claim to have a new technique that will stop panic attacks in instantly.I am not a doctor and most of these methods seem to atleast offer some interesting ideas and information.although i've never used any of them.i do suffer from Anxiety and Panic attacks and just thought I'd voice my opinion.
I was thinking that if these people,who claim to have a technique that is so amazing, (cure)that they want to share with everyone so that they can help them overcome their Fears .Why is this information only available to those who can Afford to pay for it?
If they truely wanted to Help people,because "they" have been through Anxiety and Panic themselves,they would offer this Info for Free.
So just a word of Caution.Be sure that you have researched the method you plan to use,whether its from a free site or Something you will have to pay for.
I'm not saying that these Pay for the Cure methods won't work ,but the people behind these things are when everything is said and done, in it to make a buck,so use Caution,Please!!!!!

REMEMBER,There is no Magical Cure for Anxiety and Panic Attacks,no matter How Much Money You Spend when all is said and done,your hard Work will Make you Anxiety and Panic Free.
There are some links in some of my older post that some of you may find interesting.Also i will post some other links below.These are just for informational purposes ,I do not promote or endorse any of these website.check both of them out .One is an example of a site that is selling a product and the other is a free informational site.

                       
                   
                                                              

Anxiety,Panic Attack Help

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  Welcome to my blog.I decided to write about a problem that I've been dealing with for a long time now.Anxiety and Panic attacks.I'm sure alot of you are trying to deal with the same thing and thinking that its a hopeless battle.I'm right in the thick of dealing with Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorder myself .I know its going to be a long road but I now believe that there is hope.I've been told for quite some time now that Medication is the only answer.I'm by no means saying thatmedication isn't helpful but,for me its not the way.I've been searching the Internet and asking my Doctor for natural ways of coping with my problem.               
  
  
  
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       I have found some very interesting options on the web, but I've yet to try any of them.As far asmydoctor is concerned.I'm to the point in my disorder that she believes that Medication is my only option.I don't believe that for a second.Thank God we have Meds but there has to be a better way.Popping a pill is not a magic bullet.It may help in the short term,but i believe that if the root of the problem is not dealt with and you just mask it with medication you'll never find the peace and relaxation that most of us with Anxiety and Panic Disorder are looking for.
  
  
  
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  I have been looking on the web for information that would be helpful to me.and there is definitely lots of info out there.I'm not going to talk much right now about any particular website or what they offer,that would take all day,but i will give you a list of websites that i have come across that I believe to be of some interest.Some are courses and some are just informational.They are only suggestions and I have only visited these sites at this point,so you will have to make up your own mind as to how useful this information is.